Most of us know Goa only for its beaches. No doubt they are the best but after a little exploration you find, it has much more to offer. Here is a list we prepared for you

1. BEACHES-

a. Calngute BeachLocation- Calangute Distance from FHG- 750 m It is rightly called "The Queen of Beaches of Goa" and it attracts the maximum number of tourists. With the fine sand of Goa caressing your feet, walking barefeet on the beach is heavenly. Play in the water as you want. There are lifeguards to make you aware of the threats.

Calangute beach has water sports like water scooter, parasailing, banana boat ride etc. The beach also has vendors who will sell you knick-knacks like toys, jewellery, they will give you a nice foot massage or make you a temporary tattoo. There are many permanent tattoo parlours also that dot the place.

Shop for fashionable clothes, jewelry, shoes in the roadside shops.There are Tibetian and Kashmiri shops also if you like.

Calangute is home to some famous eating joints for the everyone. For the vegetarians there are places like "Plantain leaf restaurant" (walking distance from the apartment) and for those who would like to explore the famous Goan cuisine there are Souza Lobo (Calangute), Brittos (Baga) and many more. Tito's the famous pub of Goa is barely 1 km from the apartment.

b. Baga Beach Location- Baga Distance from FHG- 2 km North

c. Candolim Beach Location- Candolim Distance from FHG- 1 km south

Baga and Candolim are walking distance and also nice places to explore with beaches, shopping and eating joints. Baga is a lot like Calangute and Candolim is the hub of branded
shops like Fab India, malls etc.d. Anjuna, Vagator and Arambolare beaches if you move more north.

e. Dona Paula and Miramarare beaches near the Capital city of Panjim

f. Colva, Palolemare famous beaches of South Goa- They are more secluded and good if you are looking for peace.

2. CHURCHES Apart from the religious high they give you, you will also appreciate the art and architecture of the renaissance period displayed in the churches.

a. Our Lady of Immaculate Conception – Location- Panjim Distance from Fun Holidays Goa- 14.5 kmEvery Indian who has watched hindi movies recognises Goa by this Church situated in Panjim, the capital of Goa and about 16 km from Calangute.

They have the well preserved mummy of St Francis Xavier, in Old Goa, which is 18 km from calangute. The Church also has a museum that displayes Goa's multi cultural past.

c. ﻿Se Cathedral Church﻿

Location- Velha Goa Distance from FHG- 21.8 km Right next to Bisilica of Bom Jesus is one of the biggest churches in Asia. It has 8 chapels alongside the aisles and 6 altars in the transept. Dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria, it has Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior forming a Portuguese-Gothic style.

d. St Cajetan Church Location- Velha Goa Distance from FHG- 23.2 km

This Church is modelled on the original design of St. Peter's church in Rome. It has a well/pond beneath the square raised platform, which serves as a pulpit.

e. The Rachol Seminary Distance from FHG- 47 km Location- Salcete

Originally a Muslim fortress, it was converted into a church by the Portuguese and later, into a prison.

3.TEMPLESNot known to many, Goa has a rich history of temples. During the brutal destruction of Hindu Temples during the Portuguese rule, many deities from all over Goa were moved to Ponda and around. Some of the surviving ones are-a.Mahalakshmi Temple panajiDistance from FHG- 15 kmLocation- PanajiLocated at the heart of the Panaji city, the Mahalaxmi temple is a sacred shrine for Hindu devotees. The Mahalaxmi temple enshrines the deity of Mahalaxmi, the Goddess of wealth. Mahalaxmi is also regarded the presiding deity of the Panaji city. The Mahalakshmi temple assumes significance for being the first Hindu temple to be built in Goa after the Portuguese invasion by Alfonse de Albuquerque. b.Sri Devaki Krishna TempleDistance from FHG- 31 kmLocation-Marcela, PondaThis is one of the few temples in India where lord Krishna is worshipped along with his mother Devaki . In the inner sanctum is a beautifully carved idol in Black stone of Devaki, standing with a child Krishna, between her legs.

Water scooter at Calangute Beach

Fancy a relaxing foot massage by the beach?

Or just watch the beautiful sunset.

The beach comes alive at night

Our lady of Immaculate Conception

The mummy of St. Francis Xavier at Bom Jesus Basilica

2. Churches-Apart from the religious high they give you, you will also appreciate the art and architecture of the renaissance period displayed in the churches.

Every Indian who has watched hindi movies recognises Goa by the Church of Of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, situated in Panjim, the capital of Goa and abut 16 km from Calangute.

Old Goa has many churches that are world heritage monuments now.

Then there is well preserved mummy of St Francis Xavier at the Basilica de Bom Jesus, in Old Goa, which is 18 km from calangute. The Church also has a museum that displayes Goa's multi cultural past.

The Rachol Seminary -Originally a Muslim fortress, it was converted into a church by the Portuguese and later, into a prison.

One of the biggest churches in Asia, Se Cathedral Church has 8 chapels alongside the aisles and 6 altars in the transept. Dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria, it has Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior forming a Portuguese-Gothic style.

It is believed that the Georgian queen St. Catevan was martyred in Goa and buried in the precincts of Tower of the church of St. Augustine. Historians and archaeologists are hopeful of finding her mortal remains.

St Cajetan Church is modelled on the original design of St. Peter's church in Rome. It has a well/pond beneath the square raised platform, which serves as a pulpit.There is also a Pilgrimage of the Heart Sound and Light Gallery in Old Goa where through light, sound, moving images and statues, they show you the life and times of Jesus and saints. Adults- Rs 15, Children Rs 10 (guided service included) Minimum group of 5 persons. Life of Jesus- 20 min, St Francis Xavier- 20 Min, Fr. Joseph Vaz 20 min. Timing- 9 am to 4:30 pm

3. TemplesNot known to many, Goa also has many temples. In fact, the city of
Ponda is called “The Land of Temples”.Shanta durga (8.2 km)- Dedicated to Goddess Shanta durga, the
deity was originally in Salcete in South Goa but during the Portuguese rule in 1566,
she was shifted to Ponda. The temple in its present place was made in 1730-38 .
It is a blend of indo-Portuguese architecture. Manguesshi Temple (33 km)- Dedicated
to Lord Shiva , the temple was shifted to its present site from Salcete in 1560.
The structure through the years has changed and you can see Indo-Portuguese, Islamic
and Hindu architecture.Tamdi Surla Temple (78 km)- A 12th
century temples is the only Hindu temple in Goa that still exists in its original
form. Dedicated to lord Shiva and made by
Queen Kamladevi in 1175-76.

4. Markets-Apart from Beach side and road side shopping, Goa has a lot many other types of markets for the shopoholic.

a. Around our resort, there are many shops and supermarkets for shopping of daily needs.b. Beach vendors and shops- Offering everything from massages, temporary tattoos, junk jewelry to trendy clothes and footwear.Bargain to your heart's content. There are some swanky showrooms for classy clothes too.b. Saturday night market- Ingo's and Mekey's Saturday Night Market in North Goa start at 7 pm and go on till 1 pm every Saturday. You will get everything that is fashionable, clothes accessories, home decor even food. There is a centre stage with live performance by local musicians, budding talent, belly dancers, comedians, fire jugglers, clowns, classical dancers musicians and many others. Food and drinks a plenty...all in all the Saturday nights are most happening at the market.... The sad part is this is this market is open only from November to April :-(

c. Anjuna Flee market- Another paradise for bargain hunters. This market on Anjuna Beach every Wednesday has everything from knick knackes to even used motorbikes. Timing-Morning till evening.

c. Malls- If you love malls, Goa has that too. Caculo mall in Panjim is the biggest with shops, restaurants, Games and 3D theatres.

Hammocks and Saturday Night Market

Shimmering curtains at much cheaper than a mall

Time Zone in Caculo Mall

4. Casinos- You can call Goa, Las Vegas of India. Goa is one of the few states in India where gambling is legal. It has many off-shore and on-shore casinos.

On-shore casinos are mostly part of a hotel.

Off-shore casinos are floating casinos in Mandovi river, Pnajim.

There is Casino Royale (ph no

Entry fee for most of them is Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 per person which includes

Location- Panjim, North Goa

Distance from Fun Holidays Goa- 15 km

5. Pubs and Discos-

5. Heritage Sites- Goa has history and goans have worked hard to remember and preserve it.

a. Arvalem caves- Also known as pandava caves, as it is believed that pandavas took refuge here during their exile but archaeologists believe they were built by Buddhist monks in the 5th/6th century AD as the pattern resembles Anjanta and Ellora caves.Location- SanquelimDistance from Fun Holidays Goa- 37 km

b. Fort Aguada-6 km from Calagute , Fort Aguada was built in 1612 by the Portuguese to defend Goa against the Dutch and the Marathas. Strategically positioned at the mouth of Mandovi river, it also had a light house to guide ships. You cant escape the romanticsm of this fort and lighthouse at night . During the end of the portuguese rule, it also served as a prison.c. Reis Magos Fort (Website)Distance from FHG- 9 kmLocation- BardezOriginally an armed outpost for Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1493, the fort, along with Reis Magos Church, was later built by the Portuguese in 1541. Almost facing Panjim and right at the mouth of Madovi river, it was used to defend from any intrusion from the sea. In the 1900’s it was converted into a jail with many freedom fighters lodged there. It was restored in 2008 with help from the Helen Hamlyn Trust from UK. It gives an amazing view of the merge of Mandovi with the sea and of Panjim. They also have a gallery with the works of the famous goan cartoonist, Mario Miranda.It stays open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m to Sunset. Get in touch with them at (0832) 2410711/15/16 or reismagosfort@gmail.comd. Cabo de Rama FortDistance from FHG- 72 kmLocation- Canacona, South GoaBuilt in 1763 by Hindu warriors, this beach fort in South Goa has been controlled by Hindus, Muslim monarchs and the Portuguese. Named after lord Ram, it is a major tourist attraction and one of the few things in Goa that show its Hindu past. e. Terekhol FortDistance from FHG- 37 km Location- Northern tip of Goa At the mouth of river Terekhol, built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhosale, Raja of Sawantwadi in the 17th Century, this fort overlooks the Arabian Sea. The Portuguese took over the fort and rebuilt it in 1764. It was a strong hold for an armed rebellion against the Portuguese in 1825. But it failed and the fort was captured by the Portuguese again. A hotel had been opened in the fort but it is closed now.

f. Chapora FortDistance from FHG- 9 km Location- Vagator Originally a muslim structure (there are still some muslim tombstones on the hillside) this fort was built but the Portuguese in 1617 as a Border outpost. It was captured by various Hindus and was finally abandoned by the Portuguese in 1892. Now in ruins with some interesting marks of history still left, the fort offers a great view of Anjuna and Vagator Beaches.g. Menezes Braganza House-Distance from FHG- 53 kmLocation- Chandor, South GoaA museum of chandeliers, paintings, porcelain, crystal , furniture and other antique items, this house is more than 350 years old. Build by AFS Braganza Periera in the 17th Century, the house was inherited by 2 sisters and named after their husbands – Menezes Braganza (west wing) and Braganza Pereira (east wing). It is still inhabited by the descendents. Can be visited on any day between 9 am to 5 pm. No entry fee, you can donate in a box kept there for the maintenance and upkeep of the place.

h. Casa Araujo Alvarees -(Website)Distance from FHG- 40 kmLocation- LoutolimClose to Big Foot, this is a 250 yrs old heritage mansion and shows the times and life of a household in the Portuguese times.

i. Lamgau caves

Fort Aguada

6. Museums-Jawaharlal Nehru Science Museum- A great place for science lovers with a "Fun Science Section" for kids and others.Goa State MuseumBig Foot Old Goa archaeological museum- Fragments of history, art and lives of Goa are depicted in this museum in a very interesting way. Timings- 8 am -5 pm, Entry fee -Rs 10 for people above 15 years. Christain art museum- annex convent of santa monica, 0832-2285229

8. Famous Festivals of Goa - Famous tourist attraction festivals of Goa The Carnival- In the month of Feb Carnival is celebrated for three days and nights. This colourful parade travels through Goa for these three days with the legendary King Momo leading the parade.

Christmas- Goa is immersed in festivities from during Christmas like no other place. You cannot be in Goa and not feel the happiness in the air. Every house decorated with lights, beautiful Christmas trees and some going beyond with cribs, Santa, snowmen and reindeer. Even public places like streets and lakes are decorated tastefully. A lovely time to be in Goa.

What to see?

Places to visit

Most of us know Goa only for its beaches but after exploring a little you get to know it has much more to offer

1. BeachesGoa is a coastal state with approximately 120 km of coastline starting with Arambol beach in the north and ending at Palolem beach in the south. Though there is a long sequence of beaches between the two, the famous and the most loved among them are- Calangute (where our holiday home is situated), Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Colva Beach and Palolem Beach. Of these, Calangute, Baga, Dona Paula and Anjuna beach are situated in North Goa whereas Colva and Palolem are situated in South Goa. North Goa beaches are more popular among tourists than South Goa.Goan beaches are famous for their superfine sand that caress your feet when you walk barefeet. The North Goa beaches specially Calangute is also famous for watersports like- water scooter, snorkelling, water skiing, sailing wind surfing, parasailing. Other things to pamper you are- beach side shopping (tibetian antiques, kashmiri handlooms,local handicrafts), candle light dinner on the beach in almost every restaurant, dance to your favorite numbers on the beach enjoying the Goan Feni. You can have fun getting temporary tattos painted on you or getting a massage in the Sun.

2. Churches

3. TemplesNot many people know about the number of old temples that are there in Goa. Prominent among them are

Brahma Temple in the village of Brahma Carambolim (meaning water pot of Braha). Built in 5 AD one of the very few temples anywhere dedicated to Lord Brahma.

Sri Gomeshwari Temple in Old Goa, also built in 5 AD by the Kadamba kings.

Shri Datta Mandir supposed to have miracle cures for mental illness.

Shri Bhagwati Temple, Shri Damodar Madir, Shanta Durga Temple.

4. Aguada Fort

5. Casinos/ DiscothequesWhen you are indulging yourself whynot go the full length? Try your luck in in the many casinos all over North Goa. There are even floating Casinos on the Mandovi river in Panjim. Famous discotheqes like Titos, Mambos (3 km from the resort) and many more....open air discotheques and music nights on most beaches.....

6. Ancestral Goa Museum/ Big FootIt gets its name form the large huam foot print on a rock that sits at the centre of the open air museum. It also has the largest latrite structure in India in Limca Book of records.

7. VillagesIf you have time we suggest you take a walk into the villages to see how real Goa lives. How they make their famed Kaju Feni, how they fish, what they eat. Trust us, they will never stop surprising you.

8. Saturday Night Market

(3 km from the resort) A market that starts at around 6 pm and goes on till 1 am every saturday night from November and goes on till April next year. You can not only shop for clothes, shoes, hadicrafts, curios, home decor, food etc. but, there is a centre stage with live performance by local musicians, budding talent, belly dancers, comedians, fire jugglers, clowns, classical dancers musicians and many others. Food and drinks a plenty...all in all the saturday nights are most happening at the market....